RobiNZ Personal Blog

Remembering September 12 2001 | 9/11 in NZ

It may seem strange but I don't remember anything at all significant about September 11, 20 years ago. September 12 though... I'll never forget. New York, NY, USA | Tue, 11 Sep 2001 | 8:46 a.m. Auckland, New Zealand | Wed, 12 Sep 2001 | 12:46 a.m. I woke, as usual, about 6am, and turned on the radio to catch up with the news. Before long was, like so many, staring at the TV in disbelief. As it was a Wednesday, went to work but not as usual. Colleagues similarly stunned, reinforced by our office view of the Auckland CBD... Read more →

NZ Media complain about losing advertising revenue they handed to social media

'Media actively drove their readers to social media and the advertisers followed. Every time you said "Visit our Facebook, Instagram, Twitter" to comment or feedback you were accelerating your own demise. They didn't take your readers, you handed them over willingly.' My response to: 'Media bosses challenge Government to recognise damage of social media advertising' where media bosses accuse social media of 'taking' , 'stealing', 'scooping up' revenue for eyeballs they actively sent to social media. Look where they are... Read more →

Buenos Aires South Cycling | Antarctic Mission Log 14

One aspect of the Bristol Hotel I never really got used to was conventional hinged lift (elevator) doors. They didn't open when the lift arrived so, several times, I pressed the call button and waited (absent-mindedly) for a lift which was already there. The Hotel had a great international breakfast included with self serve cereals, fruit (fresh & stewed), pastries (sweet & savoury), ham & cold meats and the usual hotel cooked breakfast eggs, bacon, etc faire if that is your thing. I had a bigger breakfast than usual as (thought) had a full day of exercise ahead of me.... Read more →

Armistice 1918, a view from 2018

On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, the guns fell silent along the Western Front. The First World War had effectively ended. In addition to permanent memorials these Fields of Remembrance in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin commemorate this important centenary and honour the New Zealanders who served in a conflict which touched every community. Below, just some of the 18,277 crosses in the Auckland Domain which represent every NZ soldier killed in World War One. On a sunny afternoon, in a peaceful country, a tiny mind can’t comprehend the reality memorials like... Read more →

Will Tibet ever be free?

It was sobering reading an email today (reproduced below) from Tibet Watch marking the 30th anniversary of the 1987 Lhasa protest uprising. It is impossible to visit Tibet without confronting the oppression Tibetans live with and wondering if you are supporting it. In addition to information and current news on the Tibetan struggle freetibet.org/about/travel-in-tibet has information on ethics of travelling in Tibet and recommendations for travellers. Oppression on display, my travel experience In 2014 I was part of a cycle tour from Lhasa across Tibet to Kathmandu, Nepal. Although we travelled without a Police ‘escort’, I believe uncommon, and could... Read more →

A couple of views of Trump

Anthony Bourdain on Trump, America and the places he’s visited (inc Russia): Anthony Bourdain: The Post-Election Interview - www.eater.com "We are a violent nation, from the beginning." and Sarah Kendzior writes about something I never even considered: Trump and Putin: The worst case scenario - qz.com “Trump and Putin aren’t heading to war with each other—they’re heading to war together.” Also see: Anthony Bourdain Is Living the Dream - www.eater.com (podcast and edited transcript) Read more →

P.J. O’Rourke sums up the US Presidential debacle

From the outside, thankfully far away, this is how it looks to me.. P.J. O’Rourke: I’m Endorsing Hillary Clinton, the Devil We Know - The Daily Beast Let me tell you why Hillary is a great presidential candidate—by comparison. Don’t rush me here... Did I mention that she’s the second-worst thing that could happen to America? UPDATE 07/24/2016: Raybon Kan adds a Kiwi perspective Raybon Kan: Watch out world - the rednecks' hero is real They could have chosen anyone in their political party. Maybe anyone in their country. And they chose him. And it wasn't even close. Is America... Read more →

Roots, then and now

Quite sobering watching the 2016 version of “Roots” having visited the US plantation location used for episode one. I saw Evergreen Plantation, Wallace, Louisiana in 2007 when I was in New Orleans as part of a tour. Still privately owned it was rather unusual in retaining real evidence of the slave era which built these places. They had retained the less salubrious accommodation the slaves ‘enjoyed’ and evidence of their trade. I particularly remember a tax return on display; people valued, listed as assets. So elegant and lovely on a sunny day, such a bleak history. The only resident there... Read more →

Donald Trump, the first 100 Days| RNZ News

I fear satire becoming reality… Donald Trump is in the House | Radio New Zealand News A hundred days already. That went fast. Didn't it, though? But here we are, at the end of April 2017, 100 days into the first term of the 45th president of the United States, Donald Trump. And the sky hasn't fallen… Read more →

14 Diaries of the Great War

Caught this series when it aired on Sky NZ recently. Found it interesting as it based on real stories — diaries and letters — from the perspective of soldiers, housewives, factory workers, nurses and children impacted by the War. 14 - Diaries of the Great War (titled Great War Diaries when aired on the BBC) is a 2014 international documentary drama series about World War I. It uses a mix of acted scenes, archive footage, and animation. It is a French, Canadian and German co-production — with experiences from all sides of the war — and presents a different view;... Read more →